High School category, Page 442
Jefferson-Morgan hoping to build on last year’s successes, take a big step in 2023
“Playoff season, baby!” That was the exclamation from the Jefferson-Morgan receiver group on the first day of camp practice. As with the start of any sports year, optimism abounds, and the Rockets could very well make the Class A playoffs if they can fix what cost them a chance to...
Returning coach brings dose of intensity to Carmichaels program
In 2019, Ryan Krull was seized with a “gut feeling” to step away from coaching football and left a program that had four winning seasons in seven years while he was there. “Coaching high school football was not something I wanted to do anymore,” he said. “It was time for...
Numbers up, optimism growing for seasoned Beth-Center team
Coach Anthony Ruscitto has been doing this a long time. At 82, he never misses a detail. During drills on Wednesday of the first week of camp, Ruscitto was explaining to his receivers what running with a crouch does to protect them in the open field. “You guys are out...
Countdown to kickoff: More than 2 dozen new coaches prowling WPIAL sidelines
They are new faces in new places supplying new hopes and golden dreams. Some are rookie head coaches replacing experienced coaches while other veteran coaches are starting over at new venues. Some schools have a new football coach for the first time in decades while others continue to play roulette...
2023 Trib HSSN preseason Pennsylvania high school football rankings
The curtain rises on a new high school football season across Pennsylvania this weekend as Week Zero kicks off another year of Friday and Saturday scholastic gridiron action across the Keystone State. Before 2023 begins, a shout out to the state champions from 2022: St. Joe’s Prep in 6A, Pine-Richland...
QB Cecere has Riverview football team ready for breakthrough
Rocco Cecere spent his freshman and sophomore seasons as a backup quarterback in the Riverview offense. He said that focus on his abilities and his improvement provided a lot of the motivation he needed to be ready when it was his turn to run the Raiders’ wing-T offense last year...
Senior Metcalfe set to lead Penn-Trafford football team
It seems like every year Penn-Trafford has a senior football player step up to make a name for himself. This year’s player might be safety/wide receiver Carmen Metcalfe. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior is a three-sport athlete. He also plays basketball and was a center fielder for the baseball team. Metcalfe...
PIAA upholds 1-year suspension for Shady Side Academy girls basketball coach Jonna Burke
The PIAA sided with the WPIAL on Tuesday and upheld the one-year suspension of Shady Side Academy girls basketball coach Jonna Burke. The decision came after a 90-minute appeal hearing in which Burke’s attorney argued that the longtime coach did not violate PIAA recruiting rules when she sent a direct...
Katie Jo Stobert named Highlands’ new athletic director
Katie Jo Stobert officially was hired Monday night as Highlands’ next athletic director. The school board vote was unanimous. But she has been busy in the position for the better part of a month getting the Golden Rams’ individual athletes and teams ready for the 2023 fall sports season as...
2023 WPIAL girls soccer preview: Rankings, contenders, players to watch
WPIAL girls soccer preview Class 4A Defending champion: North Allegheny Runner-up: Peters Township Team to beat: North Allegheny brings back eight all-section players and should have some offensive pop as the Tigers chase their fourth title in five years. Others to watch: Look for experienced Peters Township to chase down...
2023 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the linebackers
TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here’s a look at the top linebackers for the 2023 season. 1. Cole Sullivan Central Catholic Senior, 6-3, 210 Sullivan had a terrific junior season and emerged as one of the state’s most disruptive...
Countdown to kickoff: Rule change for 2023 alters how penalties are marked off
As with any new high school football season, there are plenty of changes with players, coaches and and even rules. There are five rule changes for the 2023 football season. Some are minor and more aesthetic than anything else. Others are somewhat significant as administrators and officials continue their efforts...
High school scores, summaries and schedules for Aug. 21, 2023
High schools Golf Monday’s results Boys Class 3A Section 5 Ambridge 244, Central Valley 270 Medalists: Liam Baker, Colt Hisaro (A) 48, Nico Dibiaggio (CV), 51 Section 6 Bethel Park 215, Canon-McMillan 219 Class 2A Section 1 Knoch 212, Deer Lakes 217 Section 2 Indiana 197, Ligonier Valley 217 Medalists:...
Union looks to ride wave of championship momentum to another strong season
Union senior quarterback Braylon Thomas doesn’t want to see the party end after the seismic wave of momentum that overtook the football team last season. The Scotties won their first WPIAL title since 1959 and made it to the PIAA Class A title game before bowing to Steelton-Highspire. In a...
Summit Academy eyes improvement in Big 7 Conference
Summit Academy’s football team took its share of lumps last season, but there were plenty of learning moments for the players and coaches. The group is hoping to use that experience from a year ago to find more success this fall, with an all new team. “The goal is to...
South Side ready to take next step toward championship berth
One win separated South Side from the chance to play at Acrisure Stadium for a WPIAL championship. A 49-21 loss to Bishop Canevin in the Class A semifinals ended an impressive 2022 season, and with many key returners, the Rams are primed and ready to make a championship run. “Our...
Shenango looks to amp up offense to return to top of loaded Big 7 Conference
After back-to-back trips to the WPIAL Class A quarterfinals, Shenango missed the postseason in 2022. Coach Jimmy Graham attributed the 2-8 overall record, including a 2-4 mark in the Big Seven Conference, to a “perfect storm” of factors. “We thought we had a pretty good team, but we had injuries...
Rochester looks to avoid injury woes, go on another playoff run
There are plenty of things that Gene Matsook wants his Rochester football team to achieve this year. Staying healthy is at the top of the list. “With the injuries we had last year, and really the last two years, it’s been kind of crazy,” said Matsook, entering his 24th season...
Northgate finds strength in numbers
Every time Northgate players walked into the weight room this offseason, they were confronted with the same reminders. Whether it was “75-19” or “69-20” or maybe “49-0” or “51-6,” there it was, day after day. “I’ve had all of the blowout scores up on the wall in the weight room...
Norwin’s Bursick verbally commits to play soccer at Duquesne
Junior Julia Bursick is done playing soccer at Norwin. For now. In a couple of years, she hopes to be playing for Duquesne. In between, she will train and continue to prepare for a post-high school career in soccer and academics. Bursick announced Monday she has verbally committed to play...
Plum quarterback Franzi will benefit from having most of last season’s offense back
Plum coach Matt Morgan called Sean Franzi one of most underrated players in the WPIAL. A combination of athletic ability and intangibles is what Morgan believes sets his senior quarterback apart, and he is looking forward to seeing him showcase those traits. For Franzi, the belief from his coach is...
Recruiting process takes Freeport pitcher Michael Hanz to the place he belongs
Michael Hanz first made contact with the West Virginia baseball program a couple of summers ago. The Freeport junior right hander’s pitching prowess at a camp on campus caught the eye of the Mountaineers coaches. Hanz attended several WVU camps since then. The most recent camp there this past weekend...
After playing QB out of necessity last season, Norwin’s Denny moves to receiver to take advantage of speed
Quarterback was not Luke Denny’s bag. When he played the position last season out of necessity, he did his best to limit mistakes and did what he could to manage the offense and move the sticks. But the role came with a measure of tolerance. “Didn’t like it much,” the...
2023 WPIAL boys soccer preview: Rankings, contenders, players to watch
WPIAL boys soccer preview Class 4A Defending champion: Pine-Richland Runner-up: Seneca Valley Team to beat: For now, it’s the team at the top. But 4A could be wide open. While the offense will need an infusion of new scorers, Pine-Richland returns several starters from a 15-5-1 team that stunned two-time...
2023 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the defensive line
TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here’s a look at the top defensive linemen for the 2023 season. 1. Connor Young Mt. Lebanon Senior, 6-3, 260 A Navy recruit with a good motor for chasing down ball carriers, Young earned...
